Longtime San Francisco 49ers defensive line coach Jim Tomsula (left) was selected to succeed Jim Harbaugh (right), now the coach of the University of Michigan. Previous head coaching experience for Tomsula includes serving as Francisco's interim head coach for the final game of the 2010 season and as head coach for the Rhein Fire of NFL Europe, where he compiled a record

The Oakland Raiders introduced Jack Del Rio as the team's new head coach at a press conference held on Jan. 15 at their Alameda headquarters. Above, left to right, general manager Reggie McKenzie, Linda and Jack Del Rio, and team owner Mark Davis. To view a photo album of the press conference, visit our Facebook Page and be sure to LIKE us. Photo by Ed Jay.

Devoted Raider Nation fans were present at Oakland Raiders headquarters during and after the press conference introducing new head coach Jack Del Rio. To view a photo album of the press conference, visit our Facebook Page and be sure to LIKE us. Photo by Ed Jay.

Erstwhile Oakland Raiders wide receiver Tim Brown has been named as one of 18 finalists for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. A former Heisman Trophy winner, Brown was a nine-time Pro Bowler, caught 100 touchdowns and is fourth all-time in receptions (1,094) and receiving yards (14,934). This year's HOF class will be announced on Jan. 31. Photo by Ed Jay.

Stanford senior quarterback Kevin Hogan was the MVP on Offense of the Foster Farms Bowl on Dec. 30, with 14 of 20 completions for 189 yards passing and two touchdowns, while adding 50 rushing yards on seven carries. Last Thursday Hogan announced he will return to the Stanford football team for a fifth-year. With a 24-8 record as a three-year starter, Hogan gave serious thought to making himself available for the NFL draft and admittedit was a tough choice. "A lot went into it (the decision)," he said. "I really needed to spend a lot of time talking with former teammates, former coaches, current coaches and my family. I did a lot of praying and weighed the pros and cons of both situations and what would be best for me moving forward and developing, and trying to play football as long as I could. I ultimately decided I wasn't ready to leave this place, and that I could continueto grow here." Photo by Kenny Karst Photography.

The San Jose State Spartans women's gymnastics team scored a 194.750 Friday night, falling just short to Cal by 0.125 as the Golden Bears won the meet with a 194.875 and Wisconsin-La Crosse scored a season-best 188.850 at the Event Center on the San Jose State University campus. Amy Bellingham (above) won her first beam title. To view a photo album of the meet, visit our

Professional climbers Kevin Jorgeson (left) and Tommy Caldwell pose for the media after their press conference heralding the first free ascent of the Dawn Wall on the east face of El Capitan in Yosemite. Caldwell and Jorgeson ascended the Dawn Wall over 19 days. Their feat is only the third such free ascent of a major route on El Capitan, the others being the Salathe Wall in 1988, and the Nose in 1993. Ropes were used only to prevent falls on the Dawn Wall, considered by most to be the most difficult free-climb route in the world. To view a photo album of the press conference,

Home at last! The Kingfish Pub, a popular North Oakland sports bar that has earned a reverential following from its loyal patrons over the years, was relocated about 35 yards down the street from Claremont to Telegraph Avenue on Jan. 10. The ramshackle, circa 1920s-era former bait shop was rolled to its new location in two sections and now resides next to theTemescal branch library. Said co-owner Emil Peinert, "Yeah, people think I'm nuts. The contractors think I should build a new one, the customers think it won't make the trip (it did), everyone is amused that this is my solution to having to leave," he says. "But I think part of reason it is the place it is, is because of its architectural features: the low ceilings, the funkiness. My worry was that if it was rebuilt in a new building it would have a faux feel, a Disneyland feeling. The power of the Kingfish is in its authenticity."

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SportsPulse

The Emerald Mile

Kenton Grua rowing his Emerald Mile dory through 232 Mile Rapids

in the Grand Canyon. Photo by Rudi Petschek.

Author Kevin Fedarko (left) and protagonist Rudi Petschek take a break from autographing their book, the award-winning "The Emerald Mile."

Photo by Kenly Weills.

In the spring of 1983, massive flooding along the length of the Colorado River confronted a team of engineers at the Glen Canyon Dam with an unprecedented emergency that might have resulted in the most catastrophic dam failure in history. In the midst of this crisis, the decision to launch a small wooden dory named the Emerald Mile at the head of the Grand Canyon, just 15 miles downstream from the Glen Canyon Dam, seemed not just odd, but downright suicidal. Rudi Petschek, shown above with author Kevin Ferdarko, was one of three oarsmen who attempted this bold adventure. The award-winning book, "The Emerald Mile"(Simon & Schuster), chronicles the fastest ride in history through the heart of the Grand Canyon.

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Power-slugging Rocky Colavito once hit four home runs in a game on June 10, 1959. Al Kaline became a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1980. Both are pictured above on Topps baseball cards from 1961.

Double Detroit delight

Kenny Karst

Ever see a batter hit a home run completely out of a baseball stadium? How about two batters -- and in the same game?

Such was the case on a hot July night in Detroit. The year was 1961. I was 9 years old and my father, Kenneth L. Karst, a law professor at Ohio State University, was teaching a summer course at the University of Michigan in nearby Ann Arbor. There's no professional baseball in Columbus, Ohio, so he decided to take our family of six to Tiger Stadium to see the Detroit Tigers host the Baltimore Orioles.

Situated in the Corktown neighborhood of downtown Detroit, historic Tiger Stadium was home to the Detroit Tigers from 1912 to 1999 and the NFL's Detroit Lions from 1938 to 1974. The stadium was demolished in 2009; however, the playing field remains on the same corner where the stadium once stood, still used today for youth sports.

When in operation decades ago, the two-tier Tiger Stadium was flanked on all four sides by city streets and had interior columns in the upper sections of the second tier, which had a circular roof extending over the crowd. It was behind one of these columns on the first base side that our seats were located. I distinctly remember having to crane my neck from the left side (watching the batters) to the right side (watching the outfielders). It made no difference to me: I was at a professional baseball game!

The 1961 Detroit Tigers finished eight games behind the New York Yankees in the American League standings (before the three divisions were created), but they had firepower. On the mound this particular evening were the Tigers' Frank Lary, 1961 American League All-Star and Gold Glove winner, and the Orioles' second-year starter Chuck Estrada. The Orioles would prevail with an 8-7 victory behind the one-hit four-inning relief work of knuckleball wizard Hoyt Wilhelm (who got the win), but it was two earlier hits in the game that made impressions upon me.

The '61 Tigers had two superstar outfielders who batted back-to-back in the cleanup and No. 5 spot in the roster: right fielder Al Kaline and left fielder Rocky Colavito. In the bottom of the third inning, with no score, Kaline walked up to the plate with two out and the bases empty.

Kaline drove the ball deep to center field, over the roof and onto the street, for his 12th home run of the season. The crowd went wild.

In the bottom of the fifth inning, with the score now 2-1 Tigers, Colavito walked up to the plate. Those who remember Colavito will recollect his signature move before entering the batter's box: he would hold the bat in front of him with one end in each hand, and then, without bending his elbows, lift the bat over his head and behind his back to stretch (that move made quite an impression on this little 9-year-old -- I never forgot it). With Estrada still on the mound for the Orioles, Colavito entered the batter's box with two out and one runner on base, then promptly lifted a towering fly ball to deep left-center field, again over the roof and onto the street for his 25th home run of the season. As I recall, everyone was standing at Tiger Stadium, cheering for Colavito as he circled the bases.

It would be several years before I would attend another major league baseball game -- in Los Angeles (the Mets' Seaver vs. the Dodgers' Koufax) -- but I will never forget my first one in the Motor City. A Memorable Sports Moment, indeed.

Inside historic Tiger Stadium, demolished in 2009.

Box score from July 18, 1961.

Kenny Karst is an accomplished landscape and sports photographer. His imagery of Yosemite National Park, where he works and resides, has been published by CNN, ABC, NBC, CBS, the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Sunset magazine and numerous international and domestic travel magazines. In his role with The Ultimate Sports Guide, Karst covers collegiate athletics at Stanford, San Jose State and Fresno State, and he also works San Francisco Giants and 49ers games. Karst is also retained by Major League Baseball Advanced Media (MLBAM) to photograph minor-league games for MiLB.com.

Send us your Memorable Sports Moment or SportsPulse and we will share them with our readers. Write: theultimatesportsguide@gmail.com.

At its 15th annual Bay Area induction ceremony, the Multi-Ethnic Sports Hall of Fame (MESHOF) will induct Chris Speier, baseball; Tommy Hart, football; Jim Otto, football; coach Darren Arbet, football; Carney Lansford, baseball; coach John Beam, football; and Warren Edmondson, track and field. The event will be held at the Waterfront Hotel, Jack London Square, in Oakland on Feb. 6 from 6 to 10 p.m.

MESHOF will also honor the following outstanding community leaders with special awards at the event: Dr. J. Alfred Smith Sr. Humanitarian Award; California Waste Solutions, Sense of Community Award; Oakland Pride, Community Advocate Award; coach Jethro McIntyre, Outstanding Coaching Award; Ron McClain, Community Support Award; and Harper for Kids, Youth Advocate Award.

The no-host cocktail hour begins at 6 p.m., followed by dinner at 7p.m. and the ceremony at 8 p.m. Tickets are $100 for dinner and ceremony. Tables of 10 are also available, as are community partner sponsorship opportunities. For tickets and more information, visit afrosportshall.com.

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